Access to agricultural resources and services

Land. Although there are no legal restrictions on women's land ownership, there are few women land owners. When women do own land, existing social and cultural norms tend to prevent them from acting independently in seeking loans or referring to government organizations.

Livestock. Rural women play a very important role in animal husbandry. More than 86% of the milking, and 42% of the feeding, watering and health care is done by women. Since women carry out 90% of the milk processing, both for home consumption and for sale, the MOJ has conducted several training courses for women in animal husbandry.

Forestry. In parts of the country, rural women are involved in tree planting, and the MOJ has provided training courses in different aspects of forestry for rural women.

Water. In 1993, 86% of the rural population had access to potable water.

Credit. Data on loans by the Agricultural Bank of Iran are not gender-disaggregated. Since loans are provided on land mortgage and women ordinarily do not possess land, it can be assumed that few women have received loans and credit. However, in recent years the Agricultural Bank has extended credit to women carpet-weavers and women members of cooperative societies. In 1993, 15% of the Bank's credit recipients were women.

Extension services and agricultural training. Since March 1993, the Rural Women's Development Office has been training women extension workers who are based in rural women's centres, in order to provide women with agricultural training and assist in the establishment of cooperatives. As of May 1995, 156 women extension agents had been trained.